I sponsored and spoke at the Assembly event launching social enterprise 3SC’s position paper ‘The Crisis in Public Sector Contracting and How to cure It - in Wales’, highlighting challenges faced by the third sector in public sector procurement and ideas to address these. There are many small organisations, particularly in the third sector, who deserve a chance to show how they can generate more positive social outcomes out of public sector contracts.
Calling for a Welsh Government Statement on the reduction of single use plastic, I highlighted Water company Hafren Dyfrdwy’s ‘Refill’ scheme launch in Wrexham, enabling people to fill up reusable water bottles for free.
I also called for a Welsh Government Statement on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis or Chronic Fatigue syndrome - ME/CFS - in Wales, following calls made when I hosted the showing of ‘Unrest’ in the Senedd last month on behalf of MesiG and WAMES, the Welsh Association of ME Support in Wales for the Health Secretary to address as a matter of urgency the continuing need for improved access to timely diagnosis, for GPs to fully understand the symptoms of the condition, and for the development of a standardised training and awareness programme in Wales.
Questioning the First Minister, I referred to the increasing short-term school exclusion rates for autistic children and to August’s Court Ruling that all schools must make sure that they have made appropriate adjustments for autistic children or those with other disabilities before they can resort to exclusion.
I also called on him to reassure legitimate self-catering accommodation businesses in North Wales that they will not be compromised by any future Council Tax changes.
Responding to the Statement on ‘Reform of Fire and Rescue Authorities' Governance and Finance Arrangements’, I quoted feedback from meetings held with the three Fire and Rescue Authorities and the WLGA in which “several queried the lack of clear evidence and rationale for reform”.
I also asked the Leader of the House whether jobs that remained unfinished following the end of BT's Superfast Cymru’s contract last December will receive priority under the successor broadband programme.
Other Assembly engagements included a Curlew Roundtable meeting with the Environment Minister, Cystic Fibrosis, British Lung Foundation's COPD Day event, Ukrainian Service women, and ‘Take a Stand’ against illegal tobacco.
North Wales engagements included the Principal of Coleg Llandrillo, award-winning charity KIM Inspire in Holywell, the ‘Go North Wales’ Tourism Awards 2018, and North Wales Police Federation’s Community Service Awards.
If you need my help, please email [email protected] or call 0300 200 7219.